Lazy Legislators
The LA Times writes a nice story over the weekend regarding the State Legislature with one of our locals giving the some of the dumbest quotes in print. Here's the passage:SACRAMENTO -- Whenever the state Assembly votes on a bill, there's a good chance Jerome Horton will press neither the green "yes" nor the red "no" button on his desk. He says abstaining makes him powerful.Count me in the camp of Laird. If you lack a spine, get the fu%$#! out of the business. You aren't sent there to play games. You are sent there to represent us. If you want to get off on your power trip, go play on the freeway and test your superpowers there.
"When you vote yes or no," said the Democrat from Inglewood, "it takes you out of the negotiations, and I don't ever want to be out of the game."
When lawmakers can't get the votes they need to pass their measures, they rush to court the undecided in hopes of changing an abstention to a "yes" on another round of voting. That gives the abstainer leverage to argue for changes in the bill.
"I'm Mr. 41," said Assemblyman Horton, referring to the last vote needed to pass most bills. "I'm always in the game."
What Horton sees as clout, others see as the shirking of a lawmaker's essential duty. One of Horton's Democratic colleagues, Assemblyman John Laird of Santa Cruz, almost always picks yes or no.
"I just think I was sent up here to vote," Laird said.
And another thing, just what have you gotten us with your new found power Jerome? A whole bunch of NOTHING!!!
Posted by Anonymous @ 8/29/2005 06:54:00 AM
18 Comments:
"I never want to be out of the game."
That sounds like a self-fluffing pimp talking.
Horton's from Inglewood- what did you expect?
What a wimp. Does he have a spine?
I see Senator Cedillo has a record as impressive as Horton! How do the CD 14 residents feel about 5 years of only pushing one issue to no end? How about more money for police, emergency services, schools, transportation improvements? We need more than just safe drivers....... He should have run for CD 14 and really prove he can do something!
How is this any different than the City Councilmembers who "take a walk" or "get excused" on big issues they confronted with?
This is not new.
Oh, I like the "pimp" reference and the follow up regarding "Inglewood." Remember to bleach your robes and hoods for this weekend's meeting. ;)
What about Paul Gonzales? Maybe not as polished as AV, NP or JH, but he seems to have a good heart and is dedicated to the area....
Maybe we don't need a veteran politician.... someone not carrying someone else's bags!
Yeah he's from the 'wood. At least he's honest and real unlike most of the fake devils up there.
ya gots to call a spade a spade
He is much better than the Fabain guy who went to Mexico and salutes the Mexican flag and shames ours.
Watch the video at:
http://www.americanpatrol.com/04-FEATURES/040809-NUNEZ-BANDITO/Video-Gutierrez-Anthem.html
If a legislator can act in his district's best interest by using his abstention on a vote - what is wrong with that? If Asm. Horton can justify this strategy with results, then why fault him?
I mean, he's not in Sacramento to make nice with people.
If you know about his legslative record (I don't), and can make an argument that it is terrible, then you might have a case.
like i said before,
he's boasting & talking like he's "big willy style"
I think the article said Senator Cedillo abstained so much because he wasn't there for the vote since his wife was sick that year. I think that's a good reason to miss a vote caring for your ailing wife. Cardenas on the other hand has no excuse.
The only response I can think of to Mayor Frank's 2:59 p.m. post is:
Welcome to the age of term limits.
I am sure a "no-agenda/powerbroker" stance has been taken by a lot of other politicians prior to term limits, but it seems like the only game in town in Sacramento these days.
Anyway, how long has Asm. Horton been in office? Isn't he termed out in 2006?
And what's up with the people inferring Horton is a pimp? You guys are pathetic, and even though this site is not exactly g-rated, you drag the whole discussion down with stuff like that. Plus it's cheap, and if you don't have the guts to stand behind what you say, don't say it at all.
he's hardly working in his district's best interests - only his own, a pattern he has established over the years.
his rep is as an aggressive and blatent power broker. its surprising he hasn't been indicted yet - especially considering some of the "questionable" f/r practices he's employed in his BOE race.
horton is slimey as hell, might as well be a pimp--
poverty pimp, is that better?
-Too $hort
5:50-- Chu is going pimp-slap his ass in that race
- Todd Shaw
Horton is someone who does not play with a full deck of cards. He has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor by taking large campaign contributions from casinos, race tracks, trash hauling companies and the liquor and tobacco industries. People in his district hardly who he is or what he has done for them. And when comes to issues of controversy such as a gay marriage bill, Horton abstains. Horton is a seat warmer, not a leader.
Again, lots of accusations but NO substance. Like Ubrayj02, I'm willing to listen to facts, but haven't heard any.
Just saying "he doesn't play with a full deck of cards" or "he's slimy" or "he's a poverty-pimp" or "a pattern he has established over the years" doesn't translate into facts. They're just opinions.
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